Toy aircraft engine starter



July 30, 1957 A. c. BOULTINGHOUSE 2,800,744

' TOY AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTER Filed Feb. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. A 6. BUUL T/NGHOUSE y 1957 A. c. BOULTINGHOUSE 2,800,744

TOY AIRCRAFT ENGINE STARTER Filed Feb. 20. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A. a. BOUL r/ GHOUSE TOY AIRCRAFT ENG STARTER A. C. Boultinghouse, Northridge, Califi, assignor to Wen- Mac Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 20, 1956, Serial No. 566,721

10 Claims. (Cl. 46-78) My invention relates to engine driven toy vehicles, and relates particularly to an engine driven toy vehicle incorporating a toy internal combustion engine, a toy propelling means and a toy rewind starter.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 484,447, filed January 27, 1955.

In the toy vehicle art such, for example, as toy or scale model airplanes, such toy airplanes have been for the past 19 years provided with miniature or toy internal combustion engines. Such toy airplanes weigh from 2 ounces to 6 ounces and the toy engines are of a weight in the neighborhood of 1 ounce to ounces. They are capable of free flight or captive flight under the skill and manipulation of the operator from the ground.

Such toy aircraft engines are commonly started by a propeller-flipping technique which is diflicult to learn and which cannot be learned by many children and some adults, who do not possess the requisite mechanical aptitude. Also there is entailed danger of finger cuts and bruises from repeated contacts with the propeller edge and danger from accidental engagement with the propeller spinner or other rapidly rotating parts.

Many attempts have been made over the years to provide a starter which would overcome the disadvantages and dangers referred to in the preceding paragraph. For example, there have been removable extraneous starter mechanisms known as spinners, egg beaters, mouse traps, etc., and even electric drills and top spinners have been used as attempted makeshift starters.

There has been an urgent need for a toy starter which could be mounted in the fuselage of a toy airplane and which could be operated by anyone, child or adult, without requiring any particular experience or mechanical aptitude.

Until the present invention no practical successful toy rewind starters for toy engines have made their appearance on the market despite the long and pressing need for such a device.

Such a toy starting means must meet limited space, weight and balance factors, must operate successfully in an environment of sticky fuels and in the presence of rather high vibrations caused by toy engine revolutions ranging from 14,000 to 18,000 revolutions per minute. Also, such a toy starting means must be of simple design and function, must be economical to manufacture and assemble. Also, it must be dependable under all conditions and must be rugged to withstand abuse by children. Furthermore, such a toy starter must be removable as a unit for replacement or repair. It must also be capable of consistent quality control notwithstanding close tolerances of one-half to one thousandth of an inch, which tolerances are necessary in engine driven toy constructions.

The present invention has satisfied all of these rigid requirements and applicant has provided a combination of a toy engine and a toy starter having a starter pull cord which extends to the exterior of the fuselage of the toy airplane or the body of the toy vehicle, which may be pulled to turn the toy engine a number of revolutions,

230,744 Patented Jniy 30,

which pull cord will, when released, be automatically rewound on the drum ready for a subsequent starting operation. The present invention is always in place and is always ready to perform the starting operation without entailing any particular mechanical aptitude and without danger of finger cuts, bruises or other injuries which result from the propeller flipping technique now in common use.

It is an object of my invention to provide a toy engine driven vehicle having incorporated therein a toy vehicle propelling assembly which includes a toy engine, a propelling means and a toy rewind or recoil starting means in which a starter pull cord extends to the exterior of the vehicle for manual pulling and which, when released, will return to an initial position where it will at all times be ready to perform a subsequent starting operation.

It is an object of my invention to provide a toy engine driven airplane in which the propelling assembly includes a toy engine mounted in the fuselage, a propeller at the forward end and exterior of the fuselage, and a toy rewind starting means positioned within the fuselage and having a pull cord extending through an opening in the fuselage for manipulation by the operator, whereby the toy engine may be turned a number of starting revolutions, and in which the pull cord, upon being released, will be automatically rewound to its initial position ready for subsequent starting operation.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a toy engine driven airplane of the character referred to in the preceding paragraph in which the pull cord extends from the fuselage in the slip stream of the propeller in order that the air stream acts to blow the pull cord, when released, rearwardly away from the propeller until it is rewound to its initial position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a toy engine driven vehicle having a toy vehicle propelling assembly in which the toy rewind starting means includes parts mounted on the toy engine and on the engine shaft which projects from the toy engine and has the propelling means thereon, said toy rewind starting means being light, compact and capable of operation in the toy vehicle environment, and in which the toy rewind starting means has a manually engageable pull cord whereby the toy engine may be rotated a number of revolutions and which, upon being released, will be rewound to its initial position and ready for a subsequent starting operation.

Yet another object is to provide a starter which may be applied to the side of the crankcase opposite that on which the main driving shaft is located.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a toy airplane having a toy engine, toy starter and propeller assembly mounted therein according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the forward end of the fuselage of the toy aircraft showing the toy power assembly of the present invention, parts being broken away and sectioned substantially on line 22 of Fig. 3 to disclose the cooperative relationship of the parts;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the details of mounting and manner in which the flexible pull member is brought to the exterior of the fuselage; taken substantially on line 33 of Pig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view showing details of the cam actuated clutch mechanism, taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing details of the rewind spring and its operative connections, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified arrangement in wiich the starter mechanism is mounted on the opposite side of the crankcase from the main shaft; and

Fig. 7 is a view diagrammatically illustrating a reed type of valve for controlling fuel admission to the engine.

Referring now generally to the drawings, there is illustrated in Fig. 1, a toy or miniature aircraft embodying the features of the present invention, this aircraft comprising a fuselage body it having wings 12 and 13 and tail structure 14 at one end of the fuselage. The other end of the fuselage is of hollow construction and provides an engine compartment, this end of the fuselage being streamlined and associated with a forward spinner 15'. The power plant as generally indicated at 16 is mounted in the engine compartment and has a driving connection with a propeller 17. Fuel control 18 is brought out through an opening 19 in the fuselage of the engine compartment, while a flexible pull cord 20 is brought out through an opening 21 in the wall of the fuselage, the openings 19 and 21 being positioned rearwardly of the propeller 17. V

The combination of the toy vehicle propelling assembly comprising a toy engine, the propelling means and toy rewind starting means will be subsequently described in detail, but is generally of a construction in which the parts are compactly arranged in axial alignment and proper weight balance, the rewind starter means having a one way clutching mechanism for starting the motor or engine in a driving direction by pulling upon the pull cord 20. Placing of the pull cord rearwardly of the propeller provides a safety feature which is of great importance in small aircraft of this type in that the air stream from the propeller acts to blow the pull cord away from the propeller so that it may be rewound without becoming entangled so as to create an unsafe hazard for the young people who usually fly this type of plane.

Referring to Fig. 2, the toy engine of the power plant 16 has a crankcase 22 formed with a tubular sleeve 23 that provides a bearing support for a projecting main shaft 24. At its outer end, the main shaft is fitted with the propeller 17 of conventional construction and is also connected with the spinner 15 which extends over the hub portion of the propeller.

The conventional power assembly of toy or model aircraft includes a toy engine, a propeller, and streamlined spinner. It is thus customary to start the engine in such prior arrangements by manually flipping the propeller. As pointed out heretofore, many persons are unable to learn the starting technique and are thus deprived of the pleasures and satisfying experiences of maneuvering toy engine driven vehicles; and also, as pointed out heretofore, there is the possibility of injury particularly in the event that the operators hands are not quickly removed from a path of movement of the propeller, or in the event that the engine should backfire and cause reverse movement of the propeller.

In order to overcome the disadvantages and hazards referred to heretofore, the present invention seeks to eliminate in so far as possible the inherent danger attending the starting of miniature engines of this type, and particularly in the case of toy and model aircraft. Although the starter, which will subsequently be described in further detail, finds particular advantageous use in connection with the engines of model and toy aircraft, the starter is also usable with the engines of model boats, automobiles, etc.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the toy or miniature starter of the present invention is positioned between the engine crankcase structure and the propeller, and comprises a two-part housing as generally indicated at 25. One part of the housing is formed by means of a cupped member 26 which is arranged at its central portion with an annular flange 27 adapted to surround the tubular sleeve 23 upon which it is retained against movement by means to be hereinafter described. The periphery of the cupped member is formed by an annular flange 28 so that the cupped member has an open end defined by a rim edge 29.

The other part of the housing 25 is formed by a drive plate or drive element 30 centrally provided with a cylindrical hub 31 arranged to have a spline or other suitable interconnection with the shaft for rotation therewith. At its periphery, the drive plate 30 has an axially extending flange 32, the edge of which registers with the rim edge 29 of the cupped member 26.

Mounted within the housing 25 is a winding means in the form of a winding drum 33 having a tubular hub 34 adapted to be rotatably supported upon the outer surface of the tubular sleeve 23. The inner end of this hub also has its bore slightly enlarged so as to extend over and bear upon the flange 27. The opposite end of the hub is arranged to extend over the hub 31 of the drive member, and extend into an annular groove 35 in the adjacent face of the drive member.

Between the ends of the hub 34, the Winding drum has integrally formed with the hub a circumferentially extending flange 36 which is grooved peripherally to form a circumferentially extending groove 37 which is adapted to windingly receive the flexible pull member 20. The inner end of the pull member is knotted and anchored in an opening 39 provided in the flange 36 below the groove 37. The free end of the pull member extends through an opening 40 to the exterior of the cupped member 26, where the pull member is provided with an end loop 41 to facilitiate manual manipulation by an operator. Inwardly spaced from this looped end, the pull member may be knotted as indicated at 42 so as to limit the rewind movement of the pull member.

On one side of the flange 36, there is positioned within the cupped member 26 a coiled spring 43, one end of this spring being positioned in a slot 44 in the flange 28, so as to anchor this end of the spring to the cupped member, as shown in Fig. 5. The inner end of the coiled spring is anchored in the adjacent wall of the tubular hub 34 by positioning the spring end in a slit 45. The spring 43 is spiraled in a proper direction to actuate the winding drum 33 so as to rewind the pull member automatically.

On the opposite side of the winding drum, there is a projection 33a having flat sides 33b on which is placed a cam plate 46 having a similarly shaped opening 46a. As shown in Fig. 4, the cam plate 46 is provided on diametrically opposite sides with inclined recesses 47, these recesses being formed by an edge 48 and an edge 49 at right angles thereto. The inclined recesses 47, subtend the flange 32 of the drive plate 30, and within each recess there is positioned a disc 50 which is adapted to roll edge wise within the associated recess. As so arranged, when the disc 50 is against the edge 49, the drive plate will be disconnected with respect to the cam plate 46. However, when the pull member 20 is pulled by grasping the end loop 41, the cam plate will be rotated, but due to the inertia of the disc 50 these discs will tend to remain stationary and will assume a wedging position between the associated edge 48 and the adjacent surface of the flange 32 so as to interconnect the cam plate and drive plate for unitary movement, thereby causing rotation of the crankshaft to start the engine.

As soon as the engine starts, the drive plate movement will overrun, and this action will tend to move the discs 50 to a non-wedging position and permit free operation of the engine. Upon releasing the pull member, the spring 43 acts to return the pull member to the winding drum.

The portion of the pull member which is exterior of the housing 25, upon starting the engine, will be blown away from thepropeller by the propeller air stream, thus permitting return of the pull member to the winding drum without danger of becoming entangled in the propeller, when the pullmember is released for rewind.

The cupped member 26 is retained against axial and rotary movements on the tubular sleeve 23 by suitable anchoring means (not shown). The drive plate 30 is formed with an annular raised surface 51 which is provided with a roughened or knurled face 52, as shown in Fig. 3, which is arranged to abut the adjacent surface of the propeller hub and form a friction non-slip engagement therewith.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a modified starter construction will be described, which is arranged for mounting on the opposite side of the crankcase from the position shown in Fig. 2. In the modified arrangement, similar parts are indicated by the same numerals as in the form previously described. The modified arrangement is constructed so that it may be mounted upon existing engines, and furnished as an attachment which may be positioned in the place now occupied by the fuel tank 53, Fig. 2.

More specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the crankcase is provided with a threaded opening 54 which receives the threaded end of a tubular bushing 55, this end of the bushing being provided with a circumferentially extending flange 56 which is adapted to bear against a sealing gasket 57 so as to sealingly mount the bushing in the crankcase opening.

Instead of mounting the starter parts in connection with the main shaft, in the modified arrangement use is made of an auxiliary shaft 58 which is rotatably mounted within the tubular bushing 55. The auxiliary shaft is longitudinally retained in position within the bushing by the drive plate 30 secured at one end by a securing screw 59, and by means of an end flange 60 at the opposite end of the auxiliary shaft.

As shown, the main shaft 24 carries a crank pin 61 which connects with the engine piston rod 62. Provision is made for also driving the auxiliary shaft 58 in concert with the main shaft 24 by the provision of a slot or opening 63 in the end flange 60, this slot or opening being adapted to receive the outer end of the crank pin 61 therein.

The modified starter construction embodies the inherent advantages of the starter construction which is arranged to be mounted between the engine and the propeller, the main difference being that in the modified construction provision is made for mounting the modified construction on the rear side of the crankcase in which position it may be readily used as an attachment for an existing engine, a minimum of changes in the engine construction being required in order to utilize the starter therewith.

One of the problems of providing a starter of the herein described type for engines used in the actuation of toys, resides in the difficulty of making the starter small enough to fit within confined spaces, particularly in the case of toy aircraft, and yet have parts which will operate efficiently, and which instead of merely turning the engine through dead center position will impart a plurality of turns in the desired direction. This latter feature is of particular importance in these model or small engines which are in certain constructions designed to operate with equal facility in reversed directions, that is in either a forward or reversed direction. For example, reed type valves are conventionally being utilized in these small engines such as disclosed in Fig. 7. As therein shown, the fuel supply conduit 64 is shown as incorporating a partition 65 having a opening 66 therein to permit flow of fuel to the engine. This opening is controlled by a reed 67 in the form of a flat spring or other flexible means which is arranged to open under the suction created in the engine. In this type of engine, there is an absence of the timed admission of fuel as sometimes incorporated in these smaller engines. Thus, a starter of the type described herein is of particular advantage and removes the hazard of starting these engines by fiippng the propeller, since a kickback may cause the propeller to go in the opposite direction and thus constitute a dangerous condition, particularly where the engine is being operated by youngsters.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form or forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a toy engine driven airplane, the combination of a hollow fuseleage having an opening at its forward end; a toy engine mounted in said fuselage and having shaft means, one part of which projects forwardly toward said opening; a propeller outside said opening secured to said shaft means; a nonrotatable sleeve supported by said toy engine concentric to said shaft means; a drive element in said fuselage secured to said shaft means; starter rotation means in said fuselage rotatable on said nonrotatable sleeve; one-way overrnnning clutch means in said fuselage connecting said drive element and said rotation means so that forward rotation of said rotation means will be transmitted to said drive element; a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in forward direction, said pull cord extending through an opening in said fuselage to the exterior of said fuselage; and rewind means in said fuselage for returning said pull cord to its initial position.

2. In a toy engine driven airplane, the combination of: a hollow fuselage having an opening at its forward end; a toy engine mounted in said fuselage and having a shaft projecting forwardly toward said opening, the front end of said engine being spaced rearwardly from said opening so as to provide a space in said fuselage ahead of said engine; a toy propeller secured to said shaft in axial alignment therewith and outside said fuselage; a drive element in said space surrounding and secured to said shaft; starter rotation means in said space rotatably surrounding said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means connecting said drive element and said rotation means so that forward rotation of said rotation means will be transmitted to said drive element; a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in forward direction, said pull cord extending from said space through an opening in said fuselage to the exterior of said fuselage; and a rewinding spring in said space having one end connected to said engine and its other end connected to said starter rotation means.

3. In a toy engine driven airplane, the combination of: a hollow fuselage having an opening at its forward end; a toy engine mounted in said fuselage and having a shaft projecting forwardly toward said opening, the front end of said engine being spaced rearwardly from said opening so as to provide a space in said fuselage ahead of said engine; a toy propeller secured to said shaft in axial alignment therewith and outside said fuselage; a drive element spaced from said engine in said space surrounding and secured to said shaft; starter rotation means in said space between said engine and said drive element rotatably surrounding said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means connecting said drive element and said rotation means so that forward rotation of said rotation means will be transmitted to said drive element; a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in for ward direction, said pull cord extending from said space through an opening in said fuselage to the exterior of said fuselage; and rewind means in said space for returning said pull cord to its initial position.

4. In a toy engine driven airplane, the combination of: a hollow fuselage having an opening at its forward end; a toy engine mounted in said fuselage and having a shaft projecting forwardly toward said opening, the front end of said engine being spaced rearwardly from said opening so as to provide a space in said fuselage ahead of said engine; a toy propeller secured to said shaft in axial alignment therewith and outside said fuselage; a drive element in saidrspacesurrounding andsecured to said shaft; starter rotaiton means in said space rotatably surrounding said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means connecting said drive element and said rotation means so that forward rotation of said rotation means will be transmitted to said drive element; a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same'in forward direction, said pull cord extending from said space through an opening in said fuelage to the exterior Of said fuselage; and rewindmeans insaid space for returning said pull cord'to its initial position.

5. In a my engine driven air'vehicle, the combination of: a body structure having an opening; a toy engine within said body structure having a shaft projecting therefrom through said opening; a toy propeller secured to said toy engine shaft outside said opening and spaced from said engine so as to provide a space between said propeller and said engine; a drive element in said space surrounding and secured to said shaft; starter rotation means in said space rotatably surrounding said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means in said space for connecting said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means is rotated in forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in said forward direction, said pull cord extending from said space into the slip stream of said propeller; and rewind means in said space for returning said pull cord to its initial'position.

6. In a toy engine driven air vehicle, the combination of: a body structure; a toy engine near the end of said body structure having a shaft projecting therefrom; a toy propeller mounted on the end of said toy engine shaft and spaced from said engine so as to provide a space between said propeller and said engine; a drive element in said space surrounding and secured to said shaft; starter rotation means in said space rotatably surrounding said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means in said space for connecting said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means is rotated in forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in said forward direction, said pull cord extending from said space in a position rearwardly of said propeller; a rewind spring in said space; and means connecting one end of said spring to said engine and the other end to said starter rotation means.

7. In a toy engine driven air vehicle, the combination of: a body structure; a toy engine near the end of said body structure having a shaft projecting therefrom; a toy propeller mounted on the end of said toy engine shaft and spaced from said engine so as to provide a space between said propeller and said engine; a drive element spaced from'said engine in said space surrounding and secured to said shaft; starter rotation means in said space between said engine and said drive element rotatably surrounding said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means in said space for connecting said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means is rotated in forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; and means for rotating said rotation means in forward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in one of said directions, said pull cord extending from said space, and spring means in said space for rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions and returning said pull cord to its initial position.

8. In a toy engine driven air vehicle, the combination of: a body structure; a toy engine near the end of said body structure having a shaft projecting therefrom; a nonrotatable sleeve supported concentric to said shaft; a toy propeller mounted on the end of said toy engine shaft and spaced from saidengine so as to provide a space between said propeller and said engine; a drive element in said space surrounding and secured to said shaft; starter rotation means in said space rotatably supported by said sleeve in alignment with said drive element; one-way overrunning clutch means in said space for connecting said starter rotation means and said drive element to rotate said drive element in forward direction; and means for rotating said rotation means in forward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord operatively connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in one of said directions, said pull cord extending from said space, and spring means in said space for rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions and returning the said pull cord to its initial position.

9. In a toy engine driven vehicle, the combination of: a toy housing structure; a toy engine mounted in said housing structure and having a shaft extending therefrom; a toy recoil starter surrounding said shaft, having a drive element secured to said shaftrstarter rotation means between said drive element and said engine, rotatably surrounding said shaft including one-way overrunning clutch means engageable with said drive element to rotate same; a pull cord operatively connected to said starter rotation means; rewind means for returning said pull cord to its initial position; a propeller; and means for holding said propeller in driven engagement with said drive element.

10. In a toy propeller driven vehicle, the combination of: a toy body structure; a toy engine secured to said body structure, said engine having a shaft projecting from said engine; a propeller secured to said engine shaft; a drive element positioned between said propeller and said engine secured to said shaft; starter rotation means positioned between said propeller and said engine adjacent said drive element and rotatable relative to said shaft; one-way overrunning clutch means positioned between said propeller and said engine for connecting said drive element and said rotation means when said rotation means is rotated in forward direction, to rotate said drive element in forward direction; and means for rotating said rotation means in forward and rearward directions comprising a pull cord wound on said rotation means having one end connected to said rotation means to rotate the same in one of said directions, said pull cord having one end extending from said rotation means into a position for manual engagement, and spring means positioned between said propeller and said engine connected to said rotation means for rotating said rotation means in the other of said directions, said pull cord, upon release after actuation, being rewound onto said rotation means with said manually engageable end exposed for subsequent starting operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,816,976 Kirkham Aug. 4, 1931 2,138,301 Howie Nov. 29, 1938 2,278,547 Herrington Apr. 7, 1942 2,286,419 Krenzie June 16, 1942 2,551,788 Cameron May 8, 1951 2,564,787 Mack Aug. 21, 1951 2,585,850 Sager Feb. 12, 1952 2,656,829 Crippen Oct. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 27,190 Great Britain 1898 

